Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis

Colestipol and cholestyramine, medicines used to treat high blood cholesterol levels

Lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression

Alcohol

Strong pain killers such as codeine, morphine, dextropropoxyphene

Barbiturates, such as phenobarbitone

Vitamin D supplements

Medicines like insulin that are used to treat diabetes

Calcium supplements, or medicines containing calcium

Medicines to treat irregular heart beats

Corticosteroids such as prednisone, cortisone, dexamethasone

Laxatives

Medicines used to treat cancer such as cyclophosphamide

Methotrexate a medicine used to treat arthritis and some cancers

Amantadine, a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease

Cyclosporine

These medicines may be affected by ADESAN HCT or may affect how it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.

How to take ADESAN HCT

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to take it

The usual dose is one tablet once daily, taken whole with a glass of water.

Take ADESAN HCT once a day, at about the same time each day.

Keeping a regular time for taking ADESAN HCT will help to remind you to take it.

It does not matter whether you take ADESAN HCT with food or on an empty stomach.

How long to take it

ADESAN HCT helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take ADESAN HCT every day. Continue taking the tablets for as long as your doctor tells you to.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is at least 12 hours before your next dose is due.

Then go back to taking it as you would normally.

If it is less than 12 hours to your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Do not double the dose.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Australian Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital immediately if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ADESAN HCT even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

If you take too many ADESAN HCT you may get a headache, feel sick (nausea), dizzy, thirsty and very tired.

While you are using ADESAN HCT

Things you must do

Take ADESAN HCT exactly as your doctor has told you to.

Your blood pressure will not be well controlled if you do not.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking ADESAN HCT.

Tell your doctor if you have excessive vomiting or diarrhoea while taking ADESAN HCT.

You may lose too much water and your blood pressure may become too low.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking ADESAN HCT.

Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking ADESAN HCT.

You should not use ADESAN HCT if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. Your doctor can discuss different treatment options with you.

If you plan to have surgery (even at the dentist) that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking ADESAN HCT.

Tell your doctor if you plan to have an examination such as an X-ray or a scan requiring an injection of iodinated contrast (dye) that you are taking ADESAN HCT.

Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Your doctor will check your progress and may want to take some tests (e.g. blood tests, blood pressure) from time to time. These tests may help to prevent side effects.

Things you must not do

Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have symptoms that seem similar to yours.

Do not stop taking ADESAN HCT unless you have discussed it with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Move slowly when getting out of bed or standing up if you feel faint, dizzy or light-headed.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ADESAN HCT affects you.

You may feel dizzy when you start taking ADESAN HCT due to the drop in your blood pressure.

Drink plenty of water while you are using ADESAN HCT, especially if you sweat a lot.

Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these possibilities if you think they may bother you.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ADESAN HCT.

ADESAN HCT helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

headache or dizziness

flu-like symptoms or infections

chest, throat or sinus infections

feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting

back pain

urinary tract infection

feeling tired

stomach ache

These side effects are usually mild.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

rapid heartbeats

aching muscles, tenderness or weakness in the muscles

The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

If any of the following happen, stop taking ADESAN HCT and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.

worsening of the kidney function including passing little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, loss of appetite and weakness (especially in patients with existing kidney problems or heart failure)

changes in your potassium, sodium and red or white blood cell levels may occur. Such changes are usually detected by a blood test

symptoms that may indicate high potassium levels in the blood include nausea, diarrhoea, muscle weakness and changes in heart rhythm

These are very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to ADESAN HCT. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

These side effects are very rare.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Some people may get other side effects while taking ADESAN HCT.

After taking it

Storage

Keep your medicine in the blister pack until it is time to take them.

If you take ADESAN HCT out of the blister pack it will not keep well.

Keep it in a cool, dry place and protect from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on window sills or in the car on hot days.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

Ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine you have left over if your doctor tells you to stop taking them, or you find that the expiry date has passed.

Product description

What ADESAN HCT looks like

ADESAN HCT 16/12.5 tablets are peach colour, mottled, round, biconvex tablet debossed with "M" on one side and "CH2" on the other.

ADESAN HCT 16/12.5 is available in blister packs of 7, 28 & 30's or bottle of 30 & 90's.

ADESAN HCT 32/12.5 tablets are yellow colored, mottled, round, biconvex tablets debossed with "CH" above the break line and "3" below the break line on one side of the tablet and "M" on the other side.

ADESAN HCT 32/12.5 is available in blister packs of 7 & 30's or bottle of 7 & 30's.

ADESAN HCT 32/25 tablets are peach colored, mottled, round, biconvex tablets debossed with "CH" above the break line and "4" below the break line on one side of the tablet and "M" on the other side.

ADESAN HCT 32/25 is available in blister packs of 7 & 30's or bottle of 7 & 30's.